Borough Council June 17 Meeting Recap
By Robb Helfrick
During the June 17 Waynesboro Borough Council Meeting, the panel gave the green light to hire three local police officers, heard a proposal to bring adult baseball back to Waynesboro, and considered buying a new ladder truck for the fire department. These items were among other monthly considerations on the June agenda.
A New Baseball Team in 2027?
Representatives who intend to form a new local team, which will play in the Pennsylvania Mid-State Baseball League, spoke during the public comments period. The group said it has 35-40 men who are interested in participating in the over-25 league, which plays games from April to August each year.
They asked the council for permission to use Memorial Park as their home field for Sunday afternoon games, beginning in 2027. The group anticipated 6-8 home games per year against teams from Mont Alto, Chambersburg, and other south PA towns. “We’re committed to being responsible users of the field,” the team spokesman said. “We appreciate your consideration and feel the league will be a good opportunity for us to represent the community.”
The organizers had already spoken to Borough Manager Jason Stains. He recommended that the team attend the next Recreation Board meeting, where they could work out the scheduling. Afterward, the council could formally approve the Memorial Park field use at a future meeting.
Mayor and Borough Manager Reports.
Mayor Dade Royer presented a brief monthly report at the council meeting. He mentioned that the Waynesboro Police Department’s drone program was already underway, with one staff pilot already trained. Royer’s goal was to train additional pilots by year’s end, so each shift would have a qualified person to operate the new aircraft.
The mayor also commented that, pending council approval, three police officers would begin employment with the borough on June 29. Then they would attend Police Academy training in July, completing that program in December. These recruits would bring the Waynesboro total personnel to 21 officers, the first time in 8 years the department has been fully staffed. Later in the meeting, the council approved the trio of new officers.
Royer commented on the new banners that were hung on Main Street only a few days earlier. He praised the efforts of local artists/designers Larry Selman, Greg Small, and Andy Smetzer, who conceived and produced 107 America 250 banners. “We thank them for adding beauty to downtown,” Royer said.
Royer closed his comments by noting his recent attendance (along with Jason Stains) at the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs’ Conference. The Mayor promised to provide the council with a report at the July meeting.
Borough Manager Stains also gave brief comments about developments since the May meeting. He mentioned that the Verizon cell phone tower installation was scheduled for August.
Regarding the recent Northside Pool renovation, Stains said a new large water slide was due to arrive on June 22. The pool would close for one week for its installation and to train the staff on its proper usage. He said the Emmitsburg, Maryland, community pool would honor Northside memberships during the closure. Stains also said that a pump for the zero-entry water feature had failed and would need replacement.
Other Agenda Items
Reporting for the Property Committee, Councilman Mike Cermak stated that the inspection report for the purchase of the proposed new home for the police department (the former Citizens’ Bank Building) was due soon.
Cermak also mentioned that the iconic clock tower at Borough Hall suffered damage during a recent storm, and repair bids were being collected. The extent of that damage was not discussed, but an insurance claim was submitted.
The council awarded a $47,000 contract to Alpha Space Control Company for line painting. The panel also authorized matching funds for a previously approved PCCD Technology Grant for the police department.
Plan to Purchase New Ladder Truck
The council authorized a budget of $2100 for Fire Chief Griffin and two staff members for travel expenses to Alabama, where they will inspect three potential ladder trucks. The new apparatus could serve dual purposes as both a pumper and a ladder truck.
Chief Griffin said the new equipment was necessary, since the only ladder truck in the borough (which is owned by the volunteer unit) failed to respond to 48% of its dispatched local calls in 2025. Griffin cited statistics provided by Franklin County for that response figure. He stated that alternate ladder trucks came from New Franklin and Hagerstown, which were both over 10 miles away.
A new agenda item was added by Borough Manager Stains to consider a fire department grant application process with a looming June 22 deadline. If granted, those funds would help pay the salary of new ladder truck personnel for three years. Griffin said the fire department currently sends out 4 firemen per truck, but a fifth would be needed for simultaneous ground/aerial capabilities that a new pumper/ladder truck would offer.
Council members questioned the reasoning behind a new paid position, but after discussion with Chief Griffin, it was decided that those were vital services. “I think that’s going to give us a tremendous amount of versatility,” Councilman Pat Fleagle said.
The council agreed that increased staffing to ensure public safety was a decision that couldn’t be put off, despite the short notice, so the panel agreed to pursue the grant funding and potential commitment to an additional paid position.
After a review of a subdivision plan for 231 W. North Street, and a time extension for a subdivision plan by Haven Hill, LLC, and Beck were both approved, Council President Jon Fleagle adjourned the meeting.
